Next Sunday night, ECW is going to be returning to PPV with what is being called ECW’s biggest show ever, Anarchy Rulz. This will be emanating from the Odeum in suburban Chicago. Sandwiched between a War Games-less Fall Brawl and the WWF’s Unforgiven, it will be great to see how ECW fairs in the buy rates, as this is the first PPV in the TNN era.

What makes this PPV of great interest to me this time out is the ECW World Title defense of Taz against Masato Tanaka. During his last time in ECW, Tanaka became a fan favourite quickly as he had a hell of a series of matches between Balls Mahoney, in which we got to see some of the nastiest chair shots ever. Mike Awesome made the trip over from FMW in Japan and brought their feud to the states with one of the highlight matches of ECW’s standout PPV, Heat Wave 1998. Later on Balls Mahoney and Masato Tanaka teamed up and at one point won the ECW World Tag Team title belts.  What’s going to happen in the match between Taz and Tanaka on 9/19? Well, as Taz put over in one of his promos- “ Best thing about him is that he can’t bitch to Paul E”

Now, granted this is purely speculation at this point in time, but its kind of a cool thing to think about. Even though it’s currently being looked at as a one-time thing- Tanaka is going to be back in ECW. In order to have been able to this, that means that an agreement had to be made with FMW. Now unless something has drastically changed I am unaware of, Onita still has a hand in the FMW promotion.

With ECW now getting onto a national, well, international spotlight with TNN and a possible working relationship with FMW once again, that just might open the door to- dare, I mention it again—
Exploding Barbed Wire Match????

Well, like I said, its purely speculation at this point in time, but isn’t that the fun part about wrestling and such wonder what might happen and then debating over what did happen.

But not only would the match itself be a big deal, but who would be actually in that ring- possibly when the bombs go off.

Let’s see—

Terry Funk -one of the first names that comes to mind. But at age 53 (?!?!?!) and the beatings he took over the years, there is hope he can come back for one final match or run in ECW. It would be great, but don’t see it happening.

Tommy Dreamer- The Innovator of Violence has innovated a bit too much violence on himself, unfortunately. Should Tom’s back get miraculous healed, perhaps, but he’s never been in a barbed wire match before. Of course never say never in the wrestling business.

Sabu- Truly the lord of the hardcores. He’s been not only in barbed wire matches in ECW, but been in exploding matches in Japan. The front-runner and a big name draw that would put even more Asses in the seats, if you’d need to do that with this kind of match in the States.

Masato Tanaka- The guy has more chairs bent around his head and not flinched. I have seen tapes of him get attacked with all sorts of plunder in his native Japan and has been in these kinds of matches. Even though he is a veteran of those wars and can take the punishment, alas Masato is not a household name. Yet.

Now, who would I like to see in there… well, two of the toughest guys who ever entered a wrestling ring.

Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten. Yeah, they aren’t household names either. But again with a qualifier of  “Yet”. I mean just in the couple matches that Axl has been back full time; we have seen some of the most hardcore and wild action. I mean, c’mon scissors, thumbtacks, fire and these guys are just getting warmed up so to speak. Here’s two guys who have already but themselves on the line for ECW in the matches they have already have. What is the best part of it- they’re only getting started.

However, though, lets get through Sunday Night September 19th and the PPV universe gets to see what happens when “ Anarchy Rulz”

Thanks for reading this week. Please check out my fellow columnists on www.ecwnews.com and also on
www.1wrestling.com.